Spurs rookie Sanders does his Bowen imitation

Melvin Sanders played his first regular-season home game in the Spurs’ 103-79 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at the SBC Center. The rookie from Oklahoma State played about 18 minutes and had five points, five rebounds and one steal.

“It’s fun being with the Spurs, getting to play even if it’s just 30 seconds it’s unbelievable,” Sanders said. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’m here. I’m having fun and playing hard when I’m out there.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich put Sanders into the game in the first quarter with the Spurs trailing the Hawks.

“Pop put us out there and said to just maintain and get the guys more focused. Ultimately it kind of worked out that way so it was good.”

The Hawks had built an early 14-point lead on the shooting of Al Harrington, who scored 22 points in the first quarter.

The next time Sanders entered the game it was in the second half. He replaced teammate Bruce Bowen, who took up the defensive assignment of guarding Harrington after the first quarter. Bowen was effective at keeping the ball out of Harrington’s hands, but went to the bench with foul trouble. All of a sudden Sanders, a 6-foot-5 rookie guard, was in the game guarding the 6-9 Harrington.

“He had 22 (points) in the first quarter,” Sanders said. “Bruce slowed him down a lot. That helped me out. I saw the way Bruce was fronting him. I was watching Bruce and doing the same thing.”

Bowen, long known for his strong perimeter defense, has been Sanders’ role model.

“Bruce is a great guy,” Sanders said. “He helps me anywhere he can. I’m watching him on defense and watch his feet. I’ve always watched Bruce.

“Ultimately it was my defense that got me into the NBA. I’ve watched him and modeled my defense after him.”